Bethesda Game Studios once considered bringing Fallout 4 to Nintendo Switch, according to a claim made by gaming insider Imran Khan. This revelation recently surfaced on the ResetEra forum (thanks Insider-Gaming), where Khan shared insights from his time as a journalist. He revealed that Pete Hines, the now-retired Bethesda executive, had suggested the project was far enough along to warrant publications preparing announcements.
A Missed Opportunity
Fallout 4 was being “explored” for Nintendo Switch several years ago, but the project ultimately didn’t come to fruition. In his ResetEra post, Khan wrote:
This was explored for Switch some years ago. To the point where Hines told my boss at the time to expect it, who then had me prep a story. Never came to fruition, though.
So far, the only Fallout game to appear on a Nintendo platform is Fallout Shelter. Fans have long expressed their desire for a more substantial release, such as a remastered collection of Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Fallout 4. Bethesda’s other titles, like Skyrim, have performed well on the Switch, leading many to hope for similar treatment for the Fallout franchise.
Why It Didn’t Happen
Pete Hines, who spoke highly of Bethesda’s Switch releases in 2018, explained the company’s approach to developing for the platform:
It’ll just depend. It’ll depend on whether or not we think the game is a good fit for the platform technically and whether we think it’s something that audience wants on Switch.
While Bethesda found success with DOOM, Skyrim, and the Wolfenstein series on the Switch, Fallout 4 apparently didn’t meet the technical or audience-fit criteria at the time.
What Could Have Been
The idea of a Fallout 4 port, or even a legacy collection of older Fallout games, remains an enticing possibility for fans. Many believe a package including Fallout 3, New Vegas, and Fallout 4 could thrive on the Switch, similar to how Skyrim captivated the console’s audience.
For now, fans can only hope that Bethesda reconsiders bringing the Fallout series to Nintendo’s beloved platform in the future.
